Valve assembly for pressurized containers



Dec. 5, 1961 D. M. ROCKWELL 3,011,586

VALVE ASSEMBLY FOR PRESSURIZED CONTAINERS Filed Jan. 12, 1959 2Sheets-Sheet l W iW is 7 70 I 9 5 w 7 6 r '20 1 72 74 37 R 35 79 6 L 362 42 4/ 2 Dec. 5, 1961 oc w 3,011,686

VALVE ASSEMBLY FOR PRESSURIZED CONTAINERS Filed Jan. 12, 1959 2Sheets-Sheet 2 .9 l I 47 l j P 4 7 I 5 P- 50 T 6 INVENTOR.

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nited States Patent 3,h1l,686 Patented Dec. 5, 1961 fhce This inventionrelates to valve assemblies for use in connection with cylinders orother containers for gases or liquids under pressure.

Valve mechanisms of this kind are generally provided either with a valvewhich is normally closed but which may be moved into open positioneither manually or when an appliance is connected therewith, or thecontainers may have cups or other closures which may be punctured topermit fluid to pass to the appliance. Such appliance comprises aseparate valve which controls the discharge of fluid from the container.It is also desirable in some containers of this kind, particularly thosecontaining combustible gases or liquids under pressure, to provide asafety or pressure relief valve for discharging some of the fluid fromthe container to the outside when the pressure in the same becomesexcessive.

It is an object of this invention to provide a valve assembly for use inconnection with containers of this kind which include both the means forpermitting the discharge of fluid from the container to an appliance anda safety or pressure relief valve, thus facilitating the installation ofboth of these fluid discharge means on a container.

A further object of the invention is to provide a cup which can bereadily applied to a container and which includes a pressure reliefvalve as well as means for withdrawing gas from the container.

it is also an object of this invention to provide a cup of this kindwith means for directing the flow of excess fluid from the containerwhen the pressure relief valve is opening in such manner as to avoidsubjecting the container to a jet action resulting from the discharge ofthe excess gas from the cup.

In the accompanying drawings:

FIG. 1 is a central, sectional elevation of a valve assembly embodyingthis invention showing the same applied to the upper part of apressurized container or cylinder and showing a part of the dischargeconnection applied thereto.

FIG. 2 is a bottom plan view thereof on line 22, FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a sectional elevation of a valve assembly of modifiedconstruction.

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of a removable cap used in connection with theconstruction shown in FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a sectional elevation of a valve cup of another modifiedconstruction.

FIG. 6 is a side view of the upper portion of a cylinder or containerand showing in section a cover member or cap for protecting the cupduring shipment or storage.

In the particular construction illustrated by way of example in thedrawings, 5 represents the upper portion of a pressurized container,such as a tank or cylinder of any suitable or usual construction, thatshown by way of example being a cylinder of the type which is discardedafter the contents have been discharged from the same. This containerhas the cylindrical wall terminating at the upper end thereof in afrusto conical end portion 6 which has the usual, open end thereofbeaded over as shown at 7. The upper ends of these cylinders orcontainers are usually closed by means of a closure member or cup 8having a substantially flat base and an upwardly extending,substantially cylindrical, peripheral wall provided at its upper endwith an outwardly overturned flange 9 which is formed to fit over thebead 7 and which is preferably 6 provided with an elastic sealingcompound 10 on the inner surface thereof facing the bead 7. This cup maybe inserted into the opening in the container or cylinder after whichthe cylindrical side wall is deformed by pressing the same outwardly byany suitable tool to form an outwardly extending projection 12 whichbears against the under surface of the conical top 6 of the tank andconsequently securely locks the cup on the container and forces theturned-over portion 10 of the cup against the head 7 to form a gas-tightconnection therewith. Any other means for securing the cup or closuremember on the container may be provided.

The valve assembly in the construction shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 includes anormally closed discharge valve through which fluid from the container 5may be withdrawn as desired. This valve may be of any desiredconstruction and to mount the same on the cup, this cup 8 is providedwith an upwardly extending, centrally disposed cylindrical wall 14having screw threads pressed into the same. The upper portion of thisupwardly exending, cylindrical wall 14 has an annular end wall or flange15 provided on the under surface thereof with a washer or gasket 16 ofrubber or other flexible sealing material.

The valve assembly also includes a spring-retaining cup 18 which ispressed into holding engagement with the cylindrical wall 14 of the cup8 and contains a spring 19 hearing against a valve member 29 in adirection to press the same against the sealing gasket 16. Thisspringretaining cup has an opening 21 therein through which fluid underpressure from the tank or cylinder may pass into the interior of the cup8.

From the foregoing description it will be obvious that the valve will beurged by the spring 19 and by the fluid pressure within the cylinder 5into engagement with the gasket or sealing member 16 so that the escapeof fluid from the container or cylinder 5 is prevented.

The fluid dispensing mechanism for cooperation with the valve mountingincludes a valve adapter 25 which has a portion thereof extending intothe cup 8 and which has a recess in the lower portion thereof providedwith internal threads which engage with the threads of the upwardlyextending, cylindrical portion 14 of the cup. This valve adapter may besecured to a body portion 27 of an appliance, either by screw threadsformed on a flange 28, as indicated at 29, or the adapter may be formedintegral therewith, and the appliance includes a suitable valve (notshown), for controlling the discharge of fluid from the container 5 whenthe valve 20 is opened. This adapter is provided with a central hole orpassage 30 into which a hollow gas outlet stem 31 of the appliance 27may extend. When this stem 31 has entered the hole 30 in the adapter, byturning the appliance while the threaded sleeve 28 engages the threads29, the stem 31 will contact with the valve 20 and force it off of itsseat on the gasket 16, as shown in FIG. 1, whereupon the fluid from theinterior of the container 5 may flow around the edges of the valve 20and into the hollow stem 31 to the appliance, where it is controlled bymeans of the appliance valve, not shown. Other means for opening thevalve 20 for discharging fluid from the container 5 may of course beprovided.

When the container 5 is filled with a compressed or liquefied gas whichmay, due to heat or other causes, exceed the desired pressure, a safetyor pressure relief valve is provided, and in the construction shown Ihave positioned this valve on the flat base portion of the cup 8 betweenthe peripheral wall and the cylindrical wall 14. For this purpose thebase portion is provided with a hole 35 which is normally closed bymeans of a valve having a head 36 cooperating with a gasket 37 and urgedin seating position by means of a spring 38'. The pressure relief valvehas a stem 44} provided with a head 41 onthe inner end thereof whichseats on a washer 42 which engages one end of the coil spring 38. Theother end of the spring bears against the inner face of the closure cup8. A pressure relief valve of any other suitable construction may beemployed if desired. By proper design of spring and length of the stem40, any desired pressure relief setting may be obtained.

If the pressure within the container 5 becomes excessive so that thepressure relief valve becomes opened, excess fluid will enter theinterior of the closure cup. It will be noted that the screw threads 2?of the adapter 25 are preferably in contact with the upper portion ofthe closure cup 8. Consequently the excess fluid which has passed intothe cup 8 will flow around the screw threads which serve the two-foldpurpose of retarding the flow of this fluid and also causing the same topass outwardly away from the valve assembly so that it will be kept awayfrom any flame which may be burning on the appliance. In this way anexplosion hazard is materially reduced. Furthermore, by discharging thisexcess gas laterally of the container 5, propulsion of the container bythe gas, by a jet action is avoided.

By providing the pressure relief valve on the cup 8, a considerablesaving of expense results. Heretofore pressure relief valves weremounted on the upper end of the container 5 which required a specialmachined relief valve bu shing which was brazed or welded in a hole inthe top side of the container 5. Furthermore the pressure relief valvein that case was on the exterior of the container where it might easilybe damaged by contact with other objects and where its operation mightbe interfered with by dirt or other foreign matter collecting on thespring, thus causing malformation of the pressure relief valve. In theconstruction herein shown, the pressure relief valve is entirely removedfrom possible contact with exterior objects or substances and is alsoprotected against corrosion.

In FIG. 3 I have shown a modified form of my invention applied toconstructions in which the valve 20 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is replacedby an appliance fitting which forms a hole in the cup 45 through whichfluid from the container passes into the appliance. In this constructiona removable cap or fitting 46 having prongs or claws 47 is formed toengage the flanged-out portion 9 of the cup. This fitting, for example,may be provided with two prongs 47 arranged about 180 degrees apart, andanother prong intermediate between these two prongs, thus leaving halfof the cap 46 without any prongs. Consequently the cap 46 can be slidover the top of the cup with the claws'extending under the turned overpart of the cup. This cap has a sleeve 48 preferably formed integralwith the fitting and which is internally threaded for engagement with anadapter 49 having a central, tubular portion 50, the lower end of whichis tapered downwardly to form sharp edges about the lower end of thebore of the tubular portion 50. As the adapter 49 is screwed downrelatively to the cap 56, the sharpened, lower end of the tubular part50 will be pressed against the middle portion of the cup 45 and cutasmall opening therein from which fluid can escape upwardly through thetubular portion 50. 5-1 represents an annular sealing member or bushingwhich is pressed by the adapter 49 against the upper surface of the cup45 and thus prevents the escape of fluid outwardly. has been emptied, itis discarded, but the cap 46 is then retained and is available for usewith another cylinder or container.

This structure for withdrawing gas from a container or cylinder is wellknown. I have however found that my improvements can be applied to aclosure cap of this construction, and as shown in FIG. 3, I havepositioned a pressure relief valve 53 on the base of the cup in the samemanner as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. This When the container or cylinder 5valve may be identical in construction with the one shown in FIGS. 1 and2. This arrangement has the advantage that the pressure relief valve islocated mainly within the cylinder 5, and also that this valvearrangement permits use of higher pressure flammable and toxic fluids ina cylinder of this type.

FIG. 5 shows the construction of a valve assembly very similar to thatshown in FIG. 1, including a cup 69 having an upwardly extending,substantially cylindrical, middle portion 61 which has screw threadsformed thereon. The upper end of the portion 60 is imperforate but maybe perforated by means of an appliance adapter 63, somewhat similar tothe one shown in FIG. 1, in that the adapter 63 has an internally screwthreaded portion formed to cooperate with the screw threads on theupstanding part of the cup 69. As this adapter is screwed down alongthese threads, a centrally located tube 64 will puncture the upper endof the cylindrical projection 61, whereupon fluid from the interior ofthe cylinder or container may be withdrawn through the tube 64 as in theconstruction shown in FIG. 3. 65 represents a compressible sealing ringextending about the tube 64 and which prevents the escape of fluid fromthe cylinder except through the tube 64.

66 represents the pressure relief or safety valve which is arranged onthe cup 60, in the same manner as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 so that themeans for withdrawing fluid from the cylinder and the pressure reliefvalve are both on the cup.

In many of these containers or cylinders it is desirable to apply aprotecting device or shield to the upper end thereof during shipment orhandling of the same so as to prevent damage to the cup and partsmounted thereon.

In FIG. 6 I have shown by way of example, a cup protecting cover ormember 7 0 which may be made of a suitable plastic material which issomewhat flerible and which has an annular, downwardly extending flange71 which may be slightly stretched to fit around the head of the cup 72.The lower part of this flange is of slightly less diameter than the beadso that the flange will securely hold the cover member on the tank. Thiscover member may be used in connection with any of the tank closure cupsshown in the drawings.

The cover member serves not only to protect the cup secured to the upperend of a tank or cylinder, but also directs any gases discharged throughthe pressure relief valve laterally in such manner that the lengthwisejet propulsion of the cylinder is avoided, which might happen if gasunder heavy pressure were directed outwardly lengthwise of the cylinderfrom the pressure relief valve or any other part of the cup. To preventsuch jet action by escaping gas, I provide in the cover member 7! two ormore holes 75 extending substantially perpendicular to the axis of thecylinder, these holes being arranged equidistant to each other about thecircumference of the cover member. Consequently, fluid underpressure'entering the space between the cup and the cover member will beprojected outwardly through the holes 75 in directions extendingradially with reference to the axis of the cylinder. By spacing theseholes at equal distances from each other the resultant of the forcesproduced by the jets will be Zero.

By mounting the pressure relief valve in the bottom of the cup, thedischarge from this valve may be readiiy controlled, for example, bypassing it along the screw threads of the valve adapter in FIGS. 1 and2, or by discharging it through the laterally extending holes in thecover member shown in FIG. 6.

It will be understood that various changes in the details, materials andarrangements of parts, which have been herein described and illustratedin order to explain the nature of the invention, may be made by thoseskilled in the art, within the principle and scope of the invention, asexpressed in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A valve assembly for a pressurized container having a dischargeopening at one end thereof, a bead extending about said opening, aclosure cup having a pcripheral wall extending into said opening andhaving an outwardly flared upper end formed to cooperate with said beadto form a fluid tight joint therewith, said cup having a bottom formedintegral with said peripheral wall, means at the middle portion of saidbottom through which fluid may be withdrawn from said container, :1spring-seated pressure relief valve cooperating with an opening in saidbottom and having a valve head seated on the exterior surface of thebottom of said cup and having a stem extending into the interior of saidcontainer, and a spring acting on said head and arranged on the interiorwall of said cup, and extending into said container, said spring holdingsaid valve head in seated position except when the pressure in thecontainer becomes excessive.

2. A valve assembly for a pressurized container having an opening in oneend thereof, including a closure cup having a peripheral wall formed forattachment to said container at said opening, and a bottom wall, asubstantially cylindrical wall formed integral with the bottom of saidcup and spaced from said peripheral Wall and having screw threadscoaxial therewith, the top of said cylindrical wall being provided withnormally closed fiuid discharge means, a valve adapter having a threadedpart formed to cooperate with the screw threads of said cylindrical walland having means for providing an opening in said fluid discharge meanswhen turned relatively to said screw threads of said cylindrical wall,and a pressure relief valve mounted on said bottom wall in the spacebetween said peripheral wall and said cylindrical wall to dischargeexcess fiuid from said container into said cup.

3. A valve assembly according to claim 2, in which said pressure reliefvalve has a head seated on the upper exterior surface of said bottomwall of said cup, and a spring arranged below said bottom wall andwithin said container and urging said valve into seated position, saidspring reacting against the inner surface of said bottom wall.

4. A valve assembly for a pressurized container having a closure cupprovided with an upright annular outer wall provided with means at itsupper portion for securing said cup to said container and extending intosaid container, said closure cup including a bottom formed integral withsaid outer wall and having a centrally located substantially cylindricalwall formed integral with said cup and extending upwardly Within saidcup and spaced from the peripheral wall thereof, an appliance for usewith said assembly and having an adapter, means on said cylindrical wallfor fastening said adapter thereto, said adapter having an outer surfacecontacting with said peripheral wall and forming therewith a restrictedapproximately spiral passage for gas, a relief valve in the bottom ofsaid cup which when opening by excessive pressure in said containerdischarges fluid under pressure into said cup for discharge from saidcup through said restricted passage.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,120,297 Reinecke June 14, 1938 2,593,770 Kollsman Apr. 22, 19522,621,014 Efiord Dec. 9, 1952 2,667,289 Daniels Jan. 26, 1954 2,822,961Seaquist Feb. 11, 1958 2,914,222 Meshberg Nov. 24, 1959

